Eligibility | Income Limits | Resource Limits | How Do I Apply For Benefits | What to Bring When Applying

Food Assistance (FA), formerly known as Food Stamps and also referred to as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), assists individuals or families with the costs of purchasing food. This program is a supplement to a household’s nutritional needs for the month. Food Assistance is issued to an Electronic Benefit Transfer account accessible by a Quest Card, which works like a debit card at a grocery store checkout counter or ATM and is kept secure with a private pin number.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for Food Assistance if you:

• Work for low wages;

• Are unemployed or work part-time;

• Receive TANF or other public assistance;

• Are elderly or disabled and live on a small income; or

• Are homeless.

The following criteria are required for determining eligibility:

• Completed application (see below on how to apply)

• Completed face-to-face interview

• Proof of monthly income

• Proof of household resources

• I.D.

• Social Security numbers for all household members

• Proof of basic expenses:

  • Rent/mortgage

  • Utility payments (telephone, heat, electricity, trash, water)

  • Child care costs or child support being paid

  • Medical expenses if over 60 years of age, or disabled as defined by the Social Security Administration

Online Tool to Determine Eligibility:
The USDA Food & Nutrition Services offers a free, easy-to-use online pre-screening tool that can help to determine if you may be eligible to receive Food Assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). This tool is not an application for Food Assistance; please follow the directions below on how to apply for benefits.
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Income Limits
Households have to meet the following income limits to be eligible for Food Assistance, unless all household members are receiving Colorado Works or SSI benefits.

If you are elderly, or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments, you must meet the income guidelines listed below.

*Gross income means a household’s total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made.
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Resource Limits

• Households may have up to $2,000 in countable resources, which includes bank accounts.

• If a member of the household is 60 years of age or more, or a person with disability, countable resources increase to $3,000.

• Vehicles may be exempt or are counted as a resource using the countable market value over $4,650, or the equity value, whichever is greater.

With some exceptions, able-bodied adults between 16 and 60 years of age must register for work, accept an offer of work and take part in employment and training activities to receive Food Assistance.
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How Do I Apply For Benefits?

A member of your household has to apply for FA at one of our County offices. The household must file an application form, participate in a face-to-face interview at our offices, and provide proof (verification) of certain information, such as income and expenses.

The office interview may be waived if the household member is unable to go to the office because of age, medical reasons, disability or other extenuating circumstance. If the office interview is waived, the local office will interview you by telephone or do a home visit. A home visit must be scheduled beforehand with the household.

There are several options available to you for obtaining and filing a Colorado Financial, Medical, and Food Assistance Application:

1. Print the online application using the link above, or secure a copy at one of our County offices.

3460 Broadway St.
Boulder, CO 80304
(303) 441-1000

529 Coffman St., Suite 100
Longmont, CO 80501
(303) 678-6000

712 Main St.
Louisville, CO 80027
(303) 413-7000

2. Complete the application and fax, mail or deliver it in-person to one of our office locations.


3. If this is your first time receiving services from Social Services, come into one of our offices during open interview hours for new clients:
Monday & Friday: 8:00 am –11:00 am
Tuesday & Thursday: 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

4. If you have requests services from Social Services before, come into one of our offices during open interview hours for existing clients:
Monday & Friday: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 8:30 am – 10:30 am

5. If you are unable to go to the nearest office, please call (303) 441-1000 to request a special telephone appointment or home visit.
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What to Bring When Applying

Proof of identity, such as
• Driver’s License
• ID cards
• Birth certificate

Proof of address, unless you are homeless, such as
• Lease agreement
• Mortgage Statement
• Utility bills (electric, gas, water or phone)
• Rent receipt

Social Security number for everyone you are applying for. If you don’t have a number you will have to apply for one;

Proof of gross income for all applicants' earned and unearned income before taxes or deductions, such as
• Pay stubs for the past two months
• Wage statement from employer
• Benefit letter from Social Security
• Unemployment compensation
• Veteran’s Administration or pensions

Proof of shelter costs, such as
• Rent receipt or mortgage statement
• Homeowners insurance policy
• Utility bills (telephone, gas, electric, oil and water bills)

Proof of all cash or non-cash assets, such as
• Most recent savings and checking account statement
• Statements showing value of stocks, bonds or investment accounts;

Proof of immigration status for non-citizens who are applying for Food Assistance

Proof of child support payments you make (if desired for consideration), such as
• Support order
• Separation agreement
• Child support records

Proof of out-of-pocket medical expenses if you are age 60 or older or receive federal disability benefits

• Doctor or hospital bills
• Prescription receipts
• Receipts for over-the-counter medical expenses if prescribed by a medical practitioner
• Transportation costs to get to medical care

Proof of child care expenses if you are working or looking for work or in training.
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For More Information
For more information on the Food Assistance program, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service website.